Mixing device for water lines



July 8, 1952 P. F. OTTO El" AL MIXING DEVICE FOR WATER LINES Filed July 10, 1947 A 7' TORNEY Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE Mixiuo DEVICE FOR WATER LINES Paul E'Otto and Edward H. Warne,

- Menlo Park, Calif.

Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,960

7 3Claims.

This'jinvention relates to a regulated visual mixing device for water lines and the like;

' The primary objectof theinvention' is to provide a visual device to introduce bath salts in crystal, cartridge, or other form, or water softener, soap, medicated or chemical substances into water lines, such as the conduits leading to a shower bath or thelike.

The main feature of the invention is the bypassing of a regulated amount of water through a control or regulating valve into a visual dissolvin or mixing chamber, which latter can be easily refilled, in cartridge or other form, with the soluble chemical substanceto be introduced in the water, such as bath'salts, water softener, soap and the like, and which easily determines the regulated degree oi'mixture that shall be introduced into the water as'it' issues from an 'outlet, such as a shower nozzle.

We are aware that some changes may be made 'in the general arrangementsand combinations of the several devices and'parts, as well as in the details ofthe construction thereof without-departing from the scope, of the present invention as set forthin the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence we do not limit our invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nordo' we .confine. ourselves to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. V

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifestin the following detailed descriptiomreference is'had to the accompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein: g a

' Fig. 1 is an assembly view showing the device installed in a shower line,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of ourinsert unit in said shower uneg p j a In Fig. l'is shown somewhat diagrammatically a" water line l-which is' suitably supported in a wall-2. At the top of the line l" isthe usual outlet conduit 3 on'the endof whi'ehis mounteda shower nozzle 4 of, any suitable type At the'regular height and regularpositionon the line l is provided a valve mechanism 6, the handles 1' of which are manipulated fromthe front and outside of the wall 2 in the usual manner to regulate the amount and temperature of-the water flow to the shower. It: is customary that two lines} are leading up to the mixing valve mechanism 6 and thereare two-handles Lonefor hot Wat -l nd. ihf r g br s a at t a the A plug 33 seals the suitable gasket 34 between the top edge of the person using the shower can adjust and mix the hot and cold water to the desired temperature of the shower.

The single line I which extends from the valve mechanism 6 to the shower is interrupted in the wall and there is interconnected between the parts of the water line I our mixing device denoted in its entirety by the numeral 9.

This mixing device 9 is made as a unit so as to form an appliance, fixture or attachment whereby a regulated strength of a soluble substance is dissolved and introduced into the water line. The unit includes a section II adapted at its intake end l2 and outlet end [3 to be screwed into the water line I either directly or by suitable unlon connections. This section H, in this illustration, is concealed within the wall together with the line I. An intake arm I4 extends from the section ll near the intake end l2 and to the outside of the wall 2. An outlet arm I6 extends from the section I l near the outlet end [3 thereofvto the same side as the intake arm l4.

In the intake arm I4 is an intake passage H. An outlet passage I8 is formed in the outlet arm IS. The passages l1 and I8 are inclined at a suitable angle from the section I l converging outwardly. i

A mixing chamber I9 is formed between the outer ends of the arms l4 and lfi and the passages and I8 therein. A cup 2i on the outer end of the intake arm Hi is the bottom of the mixing chamber. The cup 2| has a substantially frusto-conical recess 22 therein, into a side of which extends the intake passage IT. A shoulder 23 in the cup 2| determines a socket 24 which latter accommodates an end of a transparent chamber tube, a packing gasket, such as a ring gasketZl isbetween the end of the chamber tube 26 and the shoulder 23 andseals the socket-24.-

The top, of the mixing chamber I9 is formed by an internally threaded tubular bracket 28 on the outer end of the outlet arm [6, into a side of which bracket 28 connects the outer end of the outlet passage l8. A socket 29 in the inner end of the tubular bracket 28 holds the upper end of the transparent chamber tube 26. I

A packinggasket, such as a ringgasket 3| is on the upper end of the chambertube 26: ;A lock: ing ring 32 threaded in the bracket 28 engages the ring gasket 3| and holds the chamber tube 26 inplaoe.

top of the bracket 28'.- 'A

bracket 28 and the head-of the plug 33 ren'ders the cover watertight. 'I-n the iriside wallf-ofithe plug 33 is threaded a screw 36 on the head 31 of which is supported a screen 38 by a nut 39, to prevent the passage of solid particles from the chamber into the outlet passage i8. This screen structure is adjustable by the screw 36 to selected spacing from the plug 33 to suit various heights of chamber tubes. The lockin ring 32 renders the length of the upper socket 29 and of the mixing chamber variable to suit various types of chamber tubes or cartridges.

The inner end ill of the intake passage I7 is turned into the intake end of the section II and is separated from the main passage of the section H by a partition baffle 42. In other words the section I I is divided at the intake end 12 into a substantially parallel main line passage for clear water and an intake by-pass 4|.

A regulator valve stem 43 is journalled inthe intake arm i4, below the intake passage 11. The inner end of the valve stem M is a double passage valve simultaneously controlling the main line passage and the intake by-pass 4!. In the herein illustration this is accomplished by valve passages 44 and 45 respectively across the by-pass M and the main line of the section ll. These valve passages 44 and i are transverse on the valve stem 43 and are offset at right angles to one another, so that one valve passage is fully open when the other is fully closed. A number of selected relative valve adjustments can be accomplished by turning the valve stem 43. A suitable handle 47 is provided for the regulator valve. A suitable packing ca seals the outer end of the valve stem 43 inthe arm 44.

The unit herein described is attached in the line in the manner heretofore stated, and usually beyond the regular water temperature regulating valve device 6, so that the outlet nozzle temperature is not affected when the unit is in operation or when the unit is turned off. This unit may be inserted in various types of lines with various types of coupling devices. It may be installed if necessary so that the intake end I2 is at the top and the outlet end I 3 is on the bottom so that the flow is downward, according to the requirement of the particular application. The transparent chamber tube 26 may be made of either plastic or glass or the like, and it may assume any desirable shape, cylindrical or other wise. This chamber tube may be a tube more or less permanent and refillable by removing the plug structure and then replacing the bath salts or other substance therein, or the entire tube may be used as a replaceable cartridge.

In operation, desired temperature of water is obtained in the usual manner through the main valve device 6. Then the mixture regulating control valve handle 41 is turned from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a position where the main passage in the section II is partly restricted and the by-pass passage 4! is partly opened by the respective adjustment of the valve passages 46 and 44. The user can readily observe the water by-passing through the transparent chamber tube 26 and the solution is correspondingly regulated.

In our device a regulated ratio of flow through the mixing chamber'and through the main line is readily achievedby the mere turning of a mixture control valve. The forming of the solution in the mixture chamber is under visual control. The quantity of the soluble substance in said visual mixture chamber is always observable. The mixture chamber can be refilled without danger of water flow and without, interfering with the water line, even while the main water 4 line is open. The device can be regulated during its operation, from complete shut off adjustment, by-passing no Water at all, and allowing flow of. clear water from the outlet, to a complete by-pass of the total water flow through the mixing chamber for a stronger solution at the outlet; and to all intermediate ratios between said extreme adjustments. The mixing with solvent is thorough. The unit can be easily attached to and installed in existing water lines, and is eminently adapted for its purposes.

We claim: 1. A mixing unit for water lines, comprising a body section formed into a conduit and adapt- I ed to be interconnected in the water line, an arm extended from about each end of the conduit and away from said water line, a socket on the outer end of each arm, said sockets being spaced from one another and from said water line, a transparent container held in said sockets and being adapted to contain a soluble substance and to permit water flow therethrough, an intake passage extended through one of said arms from said body sectionconduit to the adjacent socket, a return passage extended from the socket of and through the other arm to said body section conduit, a valve device on said first arm for selectively and simultaneously regulating the flow through said body section conduit and into said intake passage, and a valve adjusting element extended through said first arm to the outside of and adjacent said mixing chamber for manipulating said valve device.

2. A mixing unit for water lines, comprising a body section formed into a conduit and adapted to'be interconnected in the Water line, an arm extended from about each end of the conduit and away from said Water line, a socket on the outer end of each arm, said sockets being spaced from one another and from said waterline, a transparent container held in saidsockets and being adapted to contain a soluble substance and to permit water flow therethrough, an intake passage. extendedthrough one of said arms from said body section conduit to the adjacent socket, a return passage extended from the socket of and through the other arm to said body section conduit, a .valve device on said first arm for selectively and simultaneously regulating the flow through'said body section conduitand into said intake passage, said first arm having a recess therein at thesocket thereof into which said intake passage discharges, the other socket, being open to allow access to said container, a removable -closure forsaid open socket, and a valve stem extended from said valve device away from said body section and through said first arm for manipulating said valve device.

3. A mixing unit for water lines for shower baths and the like, comprising arbody section formed. into a conduit and adapted to be interconnected in the water line, an armextended from about each end of the conduit and away from saidwater line, a socket on the outer end of each arm spaced from said conduit, said sockets being spaced from oneanother, a transparent container held in said sockets and being adapted to contain a solublesubstance and to permit water flow therethrough, an intake passage extended through one ofsaid arms from said body section conduit to the adjacent socket, areturn passage extended from-the socket of and through the otherarm to said body section conduit, an element to dividethe bodysection conduit at said intake passage into an intake leading into said intake passage and a port leading into said body section conduit, a regulating valve extended through said intake and said port and having valve passages ofiset relatively to one another for simultaneously and inversely regulating the opening through said'intake and through said port, and valve control means extended through the arm at the intake passage away from said body section and to the outside for manipulating said regulating valve.

PAUL F. OTTO.

EDWARD H. WARNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name 7 Date Agnes Aug. 26, 1884 Somers Feb. 6, 1906 Klages Apr. 6, 1926 Cantrell Aug. 7, 1928 McBrayer Feb. 19, 1929 Belmont June 14, 1938 Gifford Oct. 22, 1940 Dabrohau July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 17, 1915 Austria Apr. 26, 1937 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1934 

